The WHO ADHD screener is the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS), a free questionnaire developed by the World Health Organization to help identify ADHD symptoms in adults. The short version has just six questions, takes about two minutes to complete, and is one of the most widely used ADHD screening tools in clinical practice worldwide.
What the ASRS Covers
The ASRS comes in two forms. The six-item screener is the quick version most people encounter first, either online or in a doctor’s office. It pulls the six most predictive questions from a longer 18-item checklist that covers the full range of ADHD symptoms: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Both versions ask you to think about how frequently you’ve experienced each symptom over the past six months, rating each item on a five-point scale from “never” to “very often.”
The six-question screener was statistically selected to best match the results of a full clinical evaluation. It performs better as a quick screening tool than the full 18-item version, which is why most clinicians start with it. The longer checklist is still useful for getting a more detailed picture of symptom patterns across all three domains of ADHD.
Versions: ASRS v1.1 and ASRS-5
The version you’ll encounter most often is the ASRS v1.1, which has been in use for years and is still referenced in current clinical guidelines. Its 18 items map onto the symptoms of ADHD as defined by both the DSM-IV and DSM-5 diagnostic criteria.
A newer version, the ASRS-5, was created by the same research team in 2017. It swaps out two of the original six screening questions for items focused on executive functioning, things like difficulty organizing tasks or managing time. These aren’t part of the formal diagnostic criteria for ADHD but are closely linked to how the condition affects daily life. Both versions are considered valid screening tools, and which one you encounter depends on the provider or website offering it.
How Scoring Works
The original scoring method was simple: each of the six questions was scored as either above or below a shaded threshold on the form, giving you a score from 0 to 6. A score of 4 or higher counted as a positive screen.
An updated scoring system gives more nuance. Each response gets a point value: 0 for “never,” 1 for “rarely,” 2 for “sometimes,” 3 for “often,” and 4 for “very often.” The six items are added together for a total between 0 and 24. A score of 14 or higher is considered a positive screen. The total breaks down into four ranges:
- 0 to 9: Low likelihood of ADHD
- 10 to 13: Borderline, but below the screening threshold
- 14 to 17: Low positive range
- 18 to 24: High positive range
A higher score doesn’t mean more severe ADHD. It means the screener is more confident that a full evaluation is warranted.
How Accurate Is It?
The ASRS correctly identifies about 84 to 88 percent of adults who actually have ADHD, which is its sensitivity. Its specificity is lower, around 66 to 67 percent, meaning it produces a fair number of false positives. In practical terms, if you screen positive, there’s a real chance you have ADHD, but there’s also a meaningful chance you don’t. If you screen negative, it’s fairly reliable that ADHD isn’t the issue.
This tradeoff is intentional. Screening tools are designed to cast a wide net. It’s better for the screener to flag someone who turns out not to have ADHD than to miss someone who does. That’s why the ASRS is a starting point, not a finish line.
Screening Is Not Diagnosis
A positive result on the ASRS does not mean you have ADHD. The screener identifies people who should be evaluated further, but a proper ADHD diagnosis requires a comprehensive clinical interview. That process typically involves a detailed history of your symptoms going back to childhood, input from family members or partners who can describe your behavior patterns, and ruling out other conditions that mimic ADHD (anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and thyroid problems can all look similar on the surface).
Current clinical guidelines, including those referenced in a 2025 Indian Health Service formulary brief, list the ASRS alongside other tools like the DIVA-5 as aids for symptom assessment, always in conjunction with an extensive clinical interview. The screener helps a clinician decide whether to invest the considerable time a full evaluation takes. It doesn’t replace that evaluation.
Who the Screener Is For
The ASRS was developed and validated specifically for adults. It’s not designed for children or adolescents, who have their own set of screening and diagnostic tools. If you’re an adult who suspects you might have ADHD, whether because of longstanding difficulties with focus, organization, restlessness, or impulsivity, this is the screening tool most likely to come up in your first conversation with a healthcare provider.
The screener is copyrighted by the WHO but available at no cost. You can find it through Harvard Medical School’s website or download the PDF directly from several clinical resource pages. Many mental health providers also have copies in their offices or can walk you through it during an appointment. Taking it on your own beforehand and bringing your results to a provider is a reasonable first step if you’re considering an evaluation.